Of Chrian Liberty. 135 The pretence of preferving peace and S E R M. union amongft chriftians, Rill lefs than that V. of decency and order, juftifieth the encroach - ""Y"'"r ments of human authority upon their free- dom. It is acknowledged that nothing is more fuitable to the genius and defign of chriftianity, than peace amongft the pro - feffors of it ; nothing is more largely infifted on, more earneftly preffed in its declara- tions ; and if it do not fufficiently provide for peace, as far as an inftitution can pro- vide, it muff be owned it is defeftive, com- ing fhort of its profeffed ends. But what doth the gofpel mean by peace ? not a mere abfence of contentions and jars, whatever the caufe be ; nor a mere agreement in reli- gious profeßions, and joining together in public teftimonies of it ; but, principally, it meaneth harmony of affedtions, and the im- mediate refult of mutual charity as a bond of perfettnefs. The New Teftament writers evidently fuppofe, what indeed it is molt reafonable to fuppofe, that in this imper- fe& Rate there always will be, as there has hitherto been, a diverfity of fentiments amongft chriftians, and, if not reftrained, a diverfity of practice in the leffer points of religion. But how do they provide againft the inconveniencies which may arife from K 4 this
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